Monday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Agent casts doubt on Toure's Manchester City switch
The drawn out transfer of Yaya Toure to Manchester City has yet to be completed and the player's agent has now hinted that the midfielder could even remain at Barcelona.
Toure has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp for some time, given his failure to hold down a regular starting 11 place last season at Barcelona. It is thought that Manchester City have all but reached agreement with both Barcelona and the Ivory Coast international on a move to Eastlands.
The defensive midfielder played 34 times for the La Liga champions last campaign, scoring one goal and chipping in with six assists. He was set to be out of contract at Barcelona at the end of the 2011/2012 season.
Toure has made it clear that he wants regular first team football and prefers a move to the Premier League. With the player on the verge of joining his brother Kolo at Manchester City , the deal is yet to be finalized and now his agent has suggested that staying at Barcelona is not totally out of the question.
Spanish daily 'Sport' reports that no deal will be signed and sealed before new Barcelona president Sandro Rossell takes up his post next week.
With the deal yet to be completed, Toure's outspoken agent Dimitry Selcuk appeared to leave the door slightly ajar to the midfielder staying at Barcelona, saying, "Yes, we need to talk, but of course… reality can change in a moment. Yaya wants to play…It's not a question of money… I have not signed anything."

JOSE MOURINHO has beaten Manchester City in the race to sign Brazilian star Maicon.
Brazil's World Cup right-back has agreed to join The Special One's Real Madrid from Inter Milan in a £25million deal as soon as he returns from South Africa.
City were hoping to persuade the player to join Roberto Mancini's Eastlands revolution.
But Maicon has told his old boss Mourinho that he will link up with him at the Bernabeu next season.
The transfer will spark fears in Liverpool that Inter boss Rafa Benitez will use the fee to return to Anfield to lure Javier Mascherano from the Merseysiders.

Former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has been offered the manager's job at Dubai club Al Ahli
Daily Mail

WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/liverpoo ... _week.html

TRANSFER BOLLOX
West Ham boss Avram Grant has cooled his interest in free agent Juan Roman Riquelme. The 32-year-old former Barcelona, Villarreal and Boca Juniors midfielder would demand a £50,000-a-week deal. Daily Mirror

Everton manager David Moyes is keen to sign Landon Donovan on a permanent deal after the United States forward had a loan spell at Goodison Park last season. (Daily Express)

West Bromwich Albion are hopeful of signing Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop, with a host of other clubs, including Olympiakos, interested in the 27-year-old. Daily Mail

Lazio are ready and willing to offer £8m to land Portsmouth duo Nadir Belhadj and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Daily Mail

Burnley hope to tie up a £1m deal for Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp but Leeds United and Doncaster United will crank up their interest in the 24-year-old. Daily Mirror

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is eyeing further signings as Nicky Bailey looks set to complete a £1.4m move from Charlton. Daily Mirror

Hull midfielder Jimmy Bullard has been given permission to talk to Celtic about a possible loan move. Daily Star

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano will not be leaving Anfield to join former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan after the Italian club refused to pay the £30m asking price. Daily Star

OTHER BOLLOX
Fabio Capello will only remain as England manager if he has the unequivocal support of the Football Association following Sunday's 4-1 defeat by Germany. Daily Telegraph

Referee Jorge Larrionda, one of the men who failed to spot that Frank Lampard's first-half shot had crossed the line, was involved in a similar incident six years ago when Brazil striker Adriano was denied a goal during a World Cup qualifier against Colombia. Daily Mail

Javi Martinez is set to step in for Xavi Alonso if the Spain midfielder fails to recover from a sprained ankle in time to face Portugal tomorrow, leaving Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas on the bench once more. (Daily Express)

England midfielder Joe Cole will decide on his club future within the next two weeks, with Inter Milan the latest team to show an interest. Chelsea announced earlier this month that Cole would be leaving on a free transfer this summer. Daily Mirror

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has told club officials at Anfield that he will not become the next Liverpool manager unless he is guaranteed a transfer kitty. Daily Mirror

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has told defender Zurab Khizaishvili he has no future at Ewood Park.
Sky Sports

England have received sympathy from an unlikely source following Sunday's loss to Germany. Diego Maradona, scorer of the infamous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup, has expressed sympathy towards England after officials failed to spot Frank Lampard's shot had crossed the line.Daily Telegraph

[DoomMerchant]

good for Hodgson...i think it actually could be a step into the abyss for him to take the Liverpool job. Why fuclin bother with these cunts? they are fucled. Is it true that the Fulham job could be a better job than Scouse right now? i don't think i'm alone in thinking if i had to chose, i might chose Fulham today. Insane, but perhaps realistic for the next year or two until new ownership arrives.

cheers

[Vhero]

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has told club officials at Anfield that he will not become the next Liverpool manager unless he is guaranteed a transfer kitty. Daily Mirror

Think that will be a major problem with most managers they see Liverpool as contenders but without any cash they will just be going into a job they will get sacked from a year later.

[CityGer]

I think Hodgson will be holding off making a decision on this one. Wouldn't surprise me if he's England manager within a fortnight.

[Chinners]

Arsenal Linked With Shock £22m Manchester City Pair Swoop
Wenger Interested In De Jong and Wright-Phillips
Arsene Wenger is reportedly ready to make a move for unwanted Manchester City pair Nigel de Jong and Shaun Wright Phillips this summer. The Eastlands duo are both very much surplus to requirements under Roberto Mancini’s reign and would both presumably jump at the chance of a move to the north London side.
With the Gunners boss apparently keen to bring in more steel for the centre of his midfield a move for Dutch international de Jong would be a decent addition and would help provide support for the likes of Alex Song who was more than able to do a good job last term as the club’s best defensive midfielder.
The 25 year old is currently on World Cup duty where he is a regular first team choice for Bert van Marwijk and appears to have no future at the City of Manchester Stadium after just 17 months at the club.
Shaun Wright Phillips is another player who doesn’t appear to be rated by his Italian boss and at 28 he can ill afford to sit on the bench all season and after experiencing a similar fate at Stamford Bridge he will not want to continue at Man City with no hope of a future. He could however be a useful addition at the Emirates where his ability to play in a number of positions could come in very handy indeed. The pair have a great deal of top level experience, something the Gunners could do with, and would cost in the region of £22m, a fee that Arsenal could easily afford.

Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong is set to be ushered to the exit at Eastlands. (Goal.com)

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini steps up interest in Lazio star Aleksandar Kolarov
Serb in the City: Serbia defender Aleksandar Kolarov
Manchester City are pressing ahead with their interest in Lazio left back Aleksandar Kolarov after his move to Real Madrid stalled.
However, Real have offered £12million for the 24-year-old — well short of Lazio’s £22m valuation.
Negotiations were expected to resume yesterday but his agent, Ernesto Bronzetti, said a deal would be difficult.
City, as ever, are wary of being used to hike the price but have already offered around £15m, and the player has told team-mates he is interested in City if his dream move to Madrid cannot be salvaged.
Roberto Mancini is a big fan of the tall, powerful Kolarov, who can also play midfield.
The City manager is piecing his new side together, with deals for Yaya Toure and David Silva expected to be ratified this week and James Milner to follow.

Mancini has also not given up on Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko. Portsmouth officials were in Rome a joint £8m deal.